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Historical Sketch 



OF 



North Londonderry, n. h., 



AND OF THE 



Baptist Church Therein 



FOR 100 YEARS 



799-1899. 



BY ARTHUR^ LOCKE, 

PASTOR BAPTIST CHURCH. 



HAVERHILL, MASS., 

C. C. MORSE i SON. 

1902. 



H STORicAL Sketch 




OF 




North Londonderry, n. 


n .J 


AND OF THE 


j 


Baptst Church There n 


FOR 100 YEARS 


1 

i 
1 


1799-1899. 




t BY ARTHUR LOCKE, 




PASTOR BAPTIST CHURCH^ 


i 
1 


HAVERHILL, MASS., 




C. C. MORSE & SON. 




1902. 





Centennial Service, Sept. 27TH, IcSqq. 

North Londonderry Baptist Church. 

I Samuel, VII: 12. "Ebenezer," Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. 

We have learned to sing a glad new song in these 
days of Christian Endeavor Conventions and Holy Con- 
vocations. And the song runs thus: — 

" Count your many blessings, 
Name them one by one, 
And it will surprise you 
What the Lord hath done." 

It is our privilege to have enshrined upon the Rock 
of our memories, and not upon the Sands of our imagi- 
nations, the goodness and mercy and Providential lead- 
ings and dealings of our God with us, that in the dark 
and trying day we may have hope, and in confronting 
new difificulties or entering on new Battlefields we may 
inhale new^ courage and be inspired from the memories 
of the past to attempt the unattempted and to scale if 
necessary the seeming impossible. 

The Motto rung out by Carey a century ago "Ex- 
pect great things from God, and attempt great things 
for God," is a motto that should resound in every heart 
and the living deeds and triumphs of the past should in- 
spire the heart with greater desire and anticipation. 

The words of the text was written not only for the 
generation then in existance but also for us upon whom 
"The very ends of the World are come." 

One of the greatest Battles in the annals of Israel 



2 

was fought by Samuel and his co-generals and captains 
and triumphantly won; of which this is a memorial "Eb- 
enezer-Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." It was a 
monument erected to the 'Majesty and might -the justice 
and grace of the Living God. 

His people had been rebellious; they had neglected 
His covenant; they had infringed upon His laws; they 
had turned their backs upon Him for Baalim; or they 
compromised and rendered Him a partial service; conse- 
quently their rightly Lord, the God of their Fathers sold 
them into serfdom and tutelage or vassalage. They be- 
came servants to the Philistines over whom they were 
appointed to reign. Samuel, the servant of God brings 
them face to face with their sin; then is contrition, re- 
pentance, abandonment of their evil practices and idola- 
try; and in consequence pardon, reformation, restoration, 
tithes and true worship follows. Their sacrifices be- 
come acceptable ; their prayers are answered and forth- 
with God goes before them into Battle and the results 
are glorious. 

In the memorial of the text Samuel recounts not 
only the achievements of the present but links all the 
past, Egypt and its wonders-the Red Sea and its mar- 
vels-the Wilderness and its forty years provisions and 
the Canaan triumphs with the victories of the hour say- 
ing "Ebenezer-Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." 
Thus to day, upon the same principle, we are invited to 
take a retrospect of the past. David could reflect with 
joy upon the marvelous feats and achievements of Israel 
who, through God slew mighty Kings, "Sihon King of 
the Amorites" and "Og the King of Bashan." And 
Paul recall the victories of the faithful "Who, throuofh 
faith subdued Kingdoms, wrought righteousness, stopped 
the mouths of Lions, quenched the violence of fire, es- 
caped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made 



strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies 
of the Aliens, etc. Heb. XI: 34, 35. 

So as a Church, it is ours to recount the mercies of 
the past; and remember the Right Hand of the Most 
High in the records of the Century, peculiar to every 
church that stands for its existance on the Word of the 
Living God. The Baptist church of Londonderry had 
its trials, persecutions, conflicts, struggles and courts of 
discipline. Schisms and insubordination have inter- 
mingled with progress, development and triumphs. 

Many a time she has been tossed to and fro, as a 
frail barcpie upon a tempestuous ocean. But bravely 
she has breasted the rage of each successive hurricane 
and outwitted the elements and outweathered the gale, 
until to-day, after the struggles and conflicts of a century, 
she stands a monument of the preserving power and 
grace of God, with this motto written on her every en- 
terprise, "Ebenezer, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." 

It is not ours to recount her achievements one by 
one at this time, nor to enter into detail; but as the rec- 
ords of discipline present some interesting features or 
characteristics, we will allow a few to pass in review as 
a sample of the rest. 

The first case of discipline came up July 28th, 1802 
and adjourned to meet again Sept. 30th, of the same 
year, at which time the question was solved-by advising 
"the plaintive to withdraw the complaint." An excel- 
lent course to pursue where consistent. Many com- 
plaints are trivial and insignificant which cannot be sus- 
tained by a particle of honest evidence-purely based up- 
on hear-say or prejudice. Where investigation is nec- 
essary, let it be without delay or the plaintive advised to 
dispatch his complaint for the diadem of Christian 
Charity which never magnifies seeming discrepancies 
but encircles the offender with the halo of its own lustre 



4 
that forgives 70 times 7. 

Another case of discipline came up in 1805. After 
conversing over the matter " the Brothers agree to be 
reconciled to one another about past difficulties. This 
is the right spirit of Sainthood; not to cherish wrong 
feelings till Doom's Day and then go down in the Doom. 

Other cases of discipline follow for absence from 
the Church, for money matters, for unbecoming language, 
for dancing, for hard speeches and in one instance the 
Church "voted to withdraw the Hand of Fellowship for 
neglecting the Church and conforming to the World." 
A healthy course of discipline to adopt for the pleasure 
loving Christians of these days. A Christian is entitled 
to pleasure such as God does approve, but He has not 
authorized His Children to violate His Sabbaths or run 
excursions or picnics on His Holy days or any other in- 
consistent amusements. Discipline for the vanities of 
youth, inconsistent stories and going to soothsayers are 
included. Then follows a peculiar instance;-" Voted, 
That certain Sisters should have liberty to free their 
minds." It is not recorded whether a pandemonium or 
a doxology ensued, but let us hope for the latter. Par- 
liamentary rules are safer with their preferments before 
the body and their answers in response, arrayed in ap- 
propriate and courteous language without' freedom for 
tirade. The House of God was never intended for a 
side show. 

Oct. 25th, 1823, a Brother was disciplined on ac- 
count of drinking " too much ardent Spirit." The con- 
fession of the defendant is rather interesting:-he acknowl- 
edged that "he could not leave off unless he quits en- 
tirely." The church recommended him not to drink 
any ardent spirit, if he cannot drink a little without 
drinking too much. The church voted to give him 
time to try himself." There was certainly charity in 



5 
this but not the right Kind of charity such as Paul 
would recommend, he would not touch meat or any thing 
else while the World stands if it would cause a weak 
Brother to stumble. Thank God His Church is coming 
into the clearer light and uncompromising Truth of 
His Word on these long disputed questions, 

Feb. 23rd, 1828, a Sister declared she was not guilty 
<oi intemperance " that two spoonfuls of spirits many 
times does not hurt her." I should think it would. 
They voted to postpone the matter; well they might; a 
problem of such a nature may well be considered a sec- 
ond time. The church drew up a straight draft on Tem- 
perance after that with this element in it " That every 
member of this Church who shall make or use intoxicat- 
ing drinks shall be subject to the discipline of this 
Church, if they shall persist in such offence after suitable 
admonition shall be excluded." 

May 29th, 1830, one Brother refused to meet with 
or walk with the Church unless they tore "the articles of 
faith to pieces and flung them away and say they were 
not fit for the dogs." We hope he did not go to the 
dogs or become allied to those dogs of which Paul wrote 
about in his letter to the Phillippians; the Concision who 
would if they could have torn his doctrine all to pieces. 

Perhaps some reasons for the vigorous scenes and 
healthy course of discipline thro' which the church has 
passed in her history may be because she was favored 
with an Elijah (G. Chase) between the 40s and 60s as 
well as in the present days who is both an offlcer of the 
church and of the Town, and this has something to do 
with the vigorous application of the law within our sa- 
cred precincts during the past months. Another reason 
may be, that the Church ordained a Paul in its early 
history, as its pastor, and to have a Paul presiding over 
them must have been a constant stimulus. The very 



name being an inspiration. 

In 1858 the church voted to have the Association 
meet with thera the next year, Sept. 1859, {40 years ago)- 

October 13th, 1844, the church expressed its disap- 
proval of slavery and in response to a certain question 
the answer is couched in these words " No,, we do not 
think it right for man to hold property in man." A tree 
is known by its fruits. 

At different periods large numbers were received 
into fellowship by Baptism, experience and letter. Dur- 
ing 1833, 17 were added by Baptism, and 2 by letter, the 
membership being 70. The membership run up to 142 
or 3 at one time. It then comprised members from the 
Towns of Bedford, Derry, Hudson Derrifield, Gof^stown 
Nottingham, Salem, etc. 

April 30th, 1803. Adopted its Articles of Faith, 
in which, belief in the Triune God is expressed, the 
Word of God as the rule of Life, the fall of man. Work 
of Redemption thro' the Atonement, Justification thro'' 
Grace, Regeneration, Resurrection of just and unjust, 
a Judgment Day appointed, the Ordinances established, 
" Prayer public, private and secret" as a duty, with other 
fundamental doctrines of Christianity, scriptually stated 
perhaps with one exception, that of " Unconditional 
Election" of which there is no such thing taught in the 
Holy Scriptures as unconditional election, uncondition- 
al predestination or predetermination. The plan of the 
whole majestic scheme of Redemption is based upon 
the Sacrificial Work and conformity to the principles 
involved. The Elect accept the conditions and abide 
in them. 

Nov, 29th, 1828, the church voted to raise sufficient 
money to build a House for Baptist Worship. It is not 
stated in the records that it was built that year but from 
the "Centennial Discourse of the Presbvterian Church 



7 
and Society," delivered by Rev. Luther P. Pert, Pastor, 
July 2nd, 1846, we should say it was erected that year 
altho' the word "oi-ganized" is used and the statement 
itself a little conflicting which reads thus: — "In 1829 a 
Baptist Church was organized in the North part of the 
Town" still occupying a handsome edifice there. This 
statement evidently refers to the completion of the 
Church Building which was voted for the year before 
and not the organization of the church which of course 
took place in 1 799, 

May 29th, 1859, 31 years later the church voted to 
repair and remodel, 

Dec. 17th, 1865, the Pastor and delegates were ap- 
pointed to meet with the Brethren of Salem, N. H. to 
consider the propriety of reorganizing them as a regular 
Baptist Church. One of the first members to join that 
church after this reorganization was from the Baptist 
Church in Londonderry. Most of the churches in the 
Association have received accessions from this church 
during .the century including the churches of Manches- 
ter and the First Church of Nashua. It is therefore be- 
fitting that our Brethren and Sisters from these church- 
es are here to grace this occasion and to give it a royal 
commencement for the New Century. 

During the century one Brother had a heart large 
enough to leave his entire farm to the church, which is 
known as the Plummer Fund. Thus his honor is per- 
petuated in Baptist History. We wish there were those 
here to-night who would esteem it a privilege to give a 
generous offering towards the clearance of our debt of 
$800. It is possible for us to raise $500 in this meet- 
ing. May our hearts be touched by the Spirit of God. 

The new building in which we have met to recount 
the memories of the past was erected during the pastor- 
al charge of Rev. I). L. Wentworth under whose super- 



8 
visfon it was carried to completion. The Weather Vane- 
bears the date of 1894. The church became incorpora- 
ted in 1892,. the society giving precedence to the church, 

July 5th, 1896, the church voted to call Rev. W. 
H. Woodall as its pastor, who sei-ved the church with 
much acceptance until the present incumbent assumed 
the responsibih'ty Sept. ist, 1897, since which time the 
membership has increased from 28 to 48. The Sunday 
School has reached 60 in attendance. The meetings 
have been well sustained and the work in all depart- 
ments never brighter than now. It is w^ithin the reach 
of the church to do great thi'ngs during the present year. 

God's hand has been clearly revealed and his sus- 
taining grace manifested during the march of the centu- 
ry, and as a church we can say "Ebenezer, Hitherto hath 
the Lord helped us." 

Let us therefore take courage in the assurance 
that the triumphs of God's Grace and Spirit in the past 
is a guarantee of future blessings. 

" He who hath helped us hitherto. 

Will help us all our journey through,, 

And daily give us cause to raise 

New Ebenezers to His praise." 

The Benefits which God has conferred upon us as. 
a church and people during the past century should in- 
spire us with greater confidence, greater devotion, and 
greater ambition in the work that lies before us. 

That as Samuel could look back upon the past his- 
tory of his people and recall many instances of God's 
loving kindness to them; notwithstanding their oft re- 
peated disobedience and guilty departures from Him; 
and connected the past with the victories of the hour 
and thus inscribed His Memorial to all generations 
" Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." So let our grati- 
tude abound in hope and take a very optimistic view of 



9 
the comint;- years and " Bt' careful (oi- anxious) for noth- 
ing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with 
thanksgi\-ing, let your requests be made known unto 
Cod." 

Ihanksgixing coupled with praxer is the essence of 
Christian .\chie\enient. It is ours '* 'I'o perpetuate in 
grateful hearts the lofty deeds'" and Christian Heroism 
and noble sacrifices of "xanished years." Heroic deeds, 
sacrifices and strugtrles not to be measured in the li":ht 
of to-da\' Inu in the light of the disadvantages of the 
])ast. The evidence of Cod's Hand thro" each succes- 
sive year, in each successive conflict leading on to mul- 
tiplied triumphs makes roc^m for hope, assurance of \ic- 
tory in the future. Then let us "On to victory grand, 
Satan and his host defv and Shout for Daniel's Band." 

As this Town has raised uj; Heroes in the past. 
Captains and (Generals to serve in the Battle-fields of 
Uncle Sam; and among the number the celebrated John 
Stark whom we were pleased to admire in the works of 
Coffin before we came to Town, as one of the greatest 
heroes in the Anglo- P'rench Wars and in the Rexolu- 
tion. Let us prav and labor that ( iod ma\' enable this 
church to raise up, instruct and send forth Heroes and 
Heroines to fight "The good fight of I'^iith" in the Bat- 
tlefields of Church Militant and that shall be endowed 
with high honors in the Church TriLmi])hant. Ma) the 
Lord give us inspiration to-night to put on afresh the 
whole Armor of Cod and go forth in the Spirit of that 
beautiful Hymn: — 

I love Thv church C Cod! 
Her walls before Thee stand, 
Dear as the apjjle of Thine eye. 
And Liraven on 'i'h\' hand. 



lO 

r'or her my tears shall fall, 

P^or her my prayers ascend, 

To her my cares and toils be given, 

Till toils and cares shall end. 



One f^tindped yeafs,. 

Annivf^rsai'v (^elebi'ation at Xorth Londonderry IJaptist Church. 

We linger on the threshold of another century of years, 
The past is all behind us with its struggles and its fears; 
The record of its achievements and conflicts not a few, 
Are lessons for our profit in the century brought to view. 

We would cherish what was God-given in the records of the past. 
And know by His Providential leadings, we shall reach the goal at last 
Though mountains rise before us and the billows roll ever high, 
The sure strong hand of Jehovah is with us ever nigh. 

Hitherto, He has been with us and will be to the end. 

Our Rock and Refuge and Helper and ever present friend; 

As in the days of yore, He slew the famous kings, 

So in the days of our iiistory. He has done for us great things. 

Notwithstanding misrepresentations and oppositions not a few, 

From the time our church was organized and the little band wholly new, 

Faithfulness to the truth, and to the Lord's command, 

Have characterized this warrior group in their march on every hand. 

Its pastors they were noble men, as true as could be found. 
As ever stood on God's altar stairs or did His truth propound: 
They set forth His holy word in language true to all. 
And preached as earnest and sincere as the grand apostle Paul. 

They plead with sinners, as those who only can. 
Who know the terrors of the law, proclaimed against sinful men; 
As those whose souls are all on fire with God's most holy truth 
Believing that God's matchless grace could save them all from death. 

So on they strove from week to week in labors manifold, 
Till many souls were brought to Christ and saved within the fold; 
Still on they labored and were blest in building up the saints in rest, 
Till called of God to new bequests, to do the work He deemed was best. 

And now the century has gone but another lies before. 
Within its struggles and its difficulties and its glories to explore, 
Then up ye warriors of the cross, be brave, be true, be strong, 
And labor with Paul-like steadfastness and overcome all wrong. 



1 1 

He valiant champions lor the truth tor which the Saviour bled and died, 
For this said He: "1 sanctify myself" that thev too may be sanctified, 
Sanctified, made meet and clean to grace His honored name, 
That others may be won to Him, through whom all goodness came. 

That thus the little faithful band united long ago, 
To stand for truth .and righteousness and to try God's works to do, 
Shall still live on through coming years in living deeds and true 
Through vou, who have taken up the work in the century brought tu 
view. 

The multiplied achievements and the victories of the past, 

Are assurances of His Presence, that He will be with us to the last; 

And the studded Ebenezers that project along the way, 

Are Monumental tokens for every future day. 

So with courage even braver, than or fathers ever knew, 
Let us ever seek God's favor and test His grace anew; 
And press on to heights of attainment we never knew before, 
Till God Himself shall say well done, be with me evermore. 

ARTHUR LOCKE 
Pastor Baptist Church 

North Londonderry, N. H. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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